B & E suspect arrested/stolen property recovered
A 44-year-old Mt. Pleasant man, believed to have broken into two Rogers City businesses, two area churches, and to have stolen a truck to flee the area, has been arrested and lodged in the Clinton County jail. William Leroy Vreeland, who was arraigned Monday, is suspected of being involved in numerous breakings and enterings of churches, schools, and business across the lower peninsula.
?He has admitted to more than he can remember,? Sgt. Gary Green, Michigan State Police Post, Mt. Pleasant, told The Advance. Vreelend has told MSP detectives he was involved in more than 50 break-ins over a two-month period.
THE INVESTIGATION is ongoing, but the suspect is believed to be responsible for crimes in at least 12 counties, including Presque Isle. Green said a 1999 Chevy pickup found at the suspect?s residence, which was taken from BJ
Vreeland may be linked to the early February break-ins of Terry?s Bait and Tackle, a vending machine at the Rogers City marina, and Trinity Evangelical Church on US-23. The suspect was taken into custody following a traffic stop in Clinton County. The officer who initiated the stop, noticed suspicious items in Vreeland?s vehicle. In the vehicle were checks from a church which had been broken into in a neighboring county.
A MULTI-COUNTY task force had been formed, and as a result of the collective efforts of several mid-Michigan police agencies, MSP troopers executed a search warrant at the Bradley Trailer Court in Mt. Pleasant, where the suspect lives. This warrant resulted in the recovery of a large volume of stolen property, including the Chevy pickup, and multiple computers/electronic equipment. Vreeland was not driving the pickup when he was pulled over. Also confiscated at Vreeland?s residence were ?burglary tools,? Green said. Preliminary information from detectives suggests drugs were not the motive for the crimes and that money probably was.